The former head of Iraq's army is being held in Denmark on charges of suspected war crimes, Danish police have said.

Nizar al-Khazraji, who has been named as a possible future leader of Iraq, is accused of involvement in chemical weapons attacks against Iraq's Kurdish population in the 1980s, which left thousands dead.

The 64-year-old was head of the armed forces when Iraq invaded Kuwait in 1990.

But he fled to Jordan in 1995, before applying for political asylum in Denmark.

He allegedly offered command of an army division to the
officer who led the so-called Operation Anfal against Kurds
in northern Iraq in the late 1980s during which thousands
of people died

Prosecutor's statement

He is believed to be the highest-ranking officer to have defected from Iraq.

Officials said he was appearing in court pending a decision on whether he should be held in custody and charged.

Danish police began their inquiry when a Kurdish refugee spotted Mr Khazraji in the street, and reported him.